ESSENDON forward Jake Carlisle will need to complete full training on Monday and Wednesday if he is to return from a hamstring problem in Saturday night's elimination final against North Melbourne.
Carlisle has insisted he can return from "hamstring tightness", but coach Mark Thompson was sceptical about the nature of the injury this week, saying, "I've never heard of a one-week hamstring injury".
The important tall was labelled on Sunday a 50-50 chance to return after missing just one match by head of football and strategy Neil Craig.
"He has the slightest problem you can get in a hamstring (but) we don't take risks in finals," Craig told 3AW.
Assistant coach Simon Goodwin was also tight-lipped on Sunday.
Asked on Channel Seven if the 22-year-old had suffered a hamstring injury, Goodwin said: "According to Jake, no, according to 'Bomber' (Thompson), yes, because he's never seen a one-week hammy.
"He did some running over the weekend and he'll have to train tomorrow and also on Wednesday if he's going to be available.
"He's confident that he'll get up, but we won't take him in unless he's trained fully by Wednesday."
After copping a knee to the head from teammate Brent Stanton late in Saturday's draw against Carlton, defender Mark Baguley is expected to be fit to face the Kangaroos.
"Speaking to him after the game he'll be fine. He's very tough," Goodwin said.
Midfielder David Myers should return after he was a late withdrawal against the Blues because of illness.
